Venetian blind installation and components for obstructing the passage of light between the head channel of the blind and a soffit or the like



J1me 1964 H. K. LORENTZEN ETAL 3,136,357

VENETIAN BLIND INSTALLATION AND COMPONENTS FOR OBSTRUCTING THE PASSAGE OF LIGHT BETWEEN THE HEAD CHANNEL OF THE BLIND AND A SOFFIT OR THE LIKE Filed June 12, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l JOSEPl/A ANDERLE ATTORNEY H. K. LORENTZEN ETAL June 9, 1964 3,136,357 VENETIAN BLIND INSTALLATION AND COMPONENTS FOR OBSTRUCTING THE PASSAGE OF LIGHT BETWEEN THE HEAD CHANNEL OF THE BLIND AND A SOFFIT OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 12, 1963 N V E NTO; L okE/ st 50 .4 4mm; 5

ATTb R N EY United States Patent 3,136,357 VENETIAN BLIND INSTALLATION AND COM- PONENTS FOR OBSTRUCTING THE PASSAGE OF LIGHT BETWEEN THE HEAD CHANNEL OF THE BLIND AND A SOFFIT OR THE LIKE Hans K. Lorentzen, Montclair, and Joseph A. Anderle, Clifton, N.J., assignors to Levolor Lorentzen, Inc., Hoboken, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed June 12, 1963, Ser. No. 287,247 8 Claims. (Cl. 160-478) A typical Venetian blind installation has a light gap, or potential light gap, between the top of the head channel and the confronting surface of the building. This invention relates to the obstruction of light which normally passes through such a light gap.

In a typical Venetian blind installation at a window opening the head channel of the blind is mounted close to, but a little below, the ceiling or the sotfit. The brackets which are most frequently used for supporting the head channel are not adapted tohold the head channel against the ceiling or soifit. Moreover, it is usually desirable to allow. clearance above the head channel to facilitate mounting and dismounting of the head channel, and the blind which depends therefrom.

Increasing numbers of Venetian blind installations are being required to effect a high degree of light exclusionfor daytime sleeping in hotels and motels, and for the projection of motion pictures in audio-visual education. In such installations side light-shields are used to obstruct the passage of light at the ends of the slats. These light shields are usually side channels which extend vertically and receive the end portions of the slats of the blind. These side channels may be secured, for example, to the jambs of the window frame, extending from the sill to a level close to the soffit. In some of these installations the ends of the head channel of the blind rest on brackets which are hooked over the tops of the side channels. Because of needed clearances there is a light gap, or potential light gap, above the head channel; and such light gap may be 7 or more wide or high-wide in the sense that the length of the gap is horizontal, and high'in the sense that the width of the gap is its vertical dimension. Where the side channels of such an installation are precut to length for a number of window gaps, .above the head channels at some of the windows.

The usual practice known to us has been to install some sort of a light block after the blind has been installed. In some instances the light gap above the head channel has been caulked. Plastic and wooden strips have also been attached to the ceiling or soflit and arranged to projectacross the light gap. Such strips are awkward to install. Suitable attachment of such strips to plaster is difficult. And their attachment to a metal surface, which is sometimes encountered, is a task which is not relished by Venetian blind installers.

It has also been proposed to close the light gap above a head channel with light-blocking means attached to the head channel before the blind is installed. The lightblocking means of this type that is known to us has limited usefulness. It is suitable for only very narrow light gaps, has no adequate range of adaptability for light gaps of different heights, and is not suitable for a light gap which is tapered or otherwise varies in height to a significant degree.

Having in mind the light which would normally pass through the light gap that is between a Venetian blind head channel and the confronting surface of a building, objects of the invention are to provide light-obstructing means having one or more of the following features and ice advantages: '(a) be attachable to the head channel before the Venetian blind is installed, (b) be conveniently adjustable after the Venetian blind has been installed to cope with light gaps of varying widths or heights, and up to as much as A3" in height if desired, (0) be readily adjustable to cope with tapering light gaps, (d) be adaptable for use where the confronting building surface is irregular, with the result tht the light gap varies irregularly in width or height, (e) which utilizes standard Venetian blind material and requires only an inexpensive special part and which is inexpensive and can be facilely assembled and applied to the head channel and facilely adjusted to the light gap.

Additional objects of the invention are to provide a subassernblyand to provide a clip, both of which help accomplish the foregoing objects and contribute to the resultant advantageous installation.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the detailed description hereinafter.

In both the description and the claims parts at times may be identified by specific names for clarity and convenience but such nomenclature is to be understood as having the broadest meaning consistent with the context and with the concept of our invention as distinguished from the pertinent prior art. The best modes in which we have contemplated carrying out'our invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification. Except as otherwise indicated the description refers to the specific form of the invention shown in the drawings; it does not necessarily refer to any other form in which the invention may be embodied. The claims, however, do embrace other forms in which the invention may be embodied. I

FIGURE 1 is a partly diagrammatic front elevation of the top portion of a Venetian blind installation embodying the present invention. For convenience of illustration an unusually narrow blind is shown.

FIGURE 2 is an isometric view of a spring clip, two of which are used in the installation of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view showing a fragment of a length of Venetian blind slat with a clip of FIG- URE 2 partially applied thereto; The length of slat is used'as a light block.

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view corresponding to FIG- URE 3 but showing the clip of FIGURE 3 fully applied to the Venetian blind slat.

FIGURE 5 is a front elevation showing a subassembly thatis used in the'installation of FIGURE 1, that subassembly consisting of a length of Venetian blind slat with two clips of FIGURE 2 afixed thereto.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary elevation looking from the right of an unmounted Venetian blind that is equipped with a light block of the present invention. The view is largely diagrammatic, with parts omitted. The relevant parts shown are the head channel and the light block.

FIGURE 7 is a view corresponding to FIGURE 6 but showing the blind mounted in a window opening and showing the light block adjusted to obstruct the passage of light in the gap between the top of the head channel and the sofiit. In this view the head-channel-supporting bracket at the near end of the head channel, and the structure which is associated with the bracket, is omitted for clarity of illustration;

FIGURE 8 is a view in'vertical section, with some portions appearing in elevation, showing a skylight Venetian blind installation in accordance with the present invention. Various parts that are without significance in respect of the present invention are omitted.

In FIGURE 1, a Venetian blind 9 is shown mounted in a window opening that is defined by jambs 10 and 11, a soflFit 12' and a sill (not shown). Affixed to the jambs 10 and 11 are vertically-extending side-channels 14 and 15, each of which may extend from the sill to a level about below the solfit 12'. These side-channels slidably receive the ends of the slats 16 of the blind and act as light shields which obstruct the passage of light between the ends of the slats and the jambs of the window opening.

Each channel 14 and 15 is'of rectangular cross section, with a fiat bottom against the jamb and spaced side walls extending perpendicularly of the jamb. Nested within .thesoffit-adjacent portions of the side channels 14 and 15, and hooked over the channel bottoms, are L-shaped brackets 17 and 18 on which rest the ends of the head channel 19 of the Venetian blind. To prevent dislodgement of the head channel, sheet-metal screws 20 and 21 are inserted through the front side-walls of the channels 14 and 15, respectively, andthence through the front side-wall of the head channel 19.

Between the head channel 19 and the sofiit 12' there is a light gap, or potential light gap, at 22'. This gap is a little longer than the head channel 19 and is about wide or high. Affixed to the head channel 19 is an adjustable light block for obstructing the passage of light through the gap at 22'. This light block will be better understood from a consideration of FIGURES 2 through 7. v

The spring clip 25 shown in FIGURE 2 is formed in one piece from a strip of sheet-steel. This clip is generally U-shaped with a long leg 26, a short leg 27 and a connecting length 28 of the steel strip. The connecting length 28 makes an acute angle with the long leg 26, thereby providing the long leg at that end with a bight 29 which faces toward the free end of the long leg. The portion 30 at the free end of the long'leg is bent to form 'a bight 31 which faces toward the bight 29, and is then recurved to provide a smoothly rounded portion 32, the

--very tip 34 being brought back most of the way to the plane of the body of the leg 26.

The portion 35 of the short leg 27 is offset toward the body of the long leg 26, being bent into close proximity to the long leg 26, and thence away from the long leg.

passage of light through the gap between the sofiit and the Venetian-blind head-channel. Only a fragment of the slat is shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, and it ,will be understood that this slat is at least as long as the head channel of the blind. If there is available space beyond the ends of the head channel, the slat 40 may be sowewhat longer. A pair of spring clips 25 is assembled with the slat 40, one clip of the pair toward each end of the slat 40. In the case of a wide blind one or more additional clips 25 may be used between the clips of the aforesaid pair. Each clip is assembled with the slat 40 the manner indicated in FIGURES 3 and 4.

To apply a clip 25 to the slat 40 the long leg 26 of the clip is placed approximately in the plane established by the two longitudinal edges of the slat, with the rounded portion 32 of the long leg nested against the concave side of the slat and with the nose 39 of the short leg starting over the convex side of the slat. The clip is then pushed onto the slat, downwardly in FIGURE 3, bringcave side of the slat and the nose39 of the offset portion 35 slides against the convex side of the slat. By the time ing the clip to the partially applied position shown in the clip had been brought to the partially applied position shown in FIGURE 3 the legs 26 and 27 of the clip have been resiliently spread into substantial parallelism by the transverse curvature of the slat 40. As the clip 25 is broughtto the fully applied position shown in FIGURE 4 the legs of the clip are permitted to return toward their unstressed positions. The rounded portion 32 snaps under the lower edge of the slat; and the nose 39 resiliently presses the slat against the face of leg 26, with the longitudinal edges of the slat engaged in the bights 29 and 31. These two bights are spaced apart by such distance as to provide no more than suitable working clearance for the reception of the two edges of the slat 4i). The subassembly of slat 40 and pair of clips 25 isthe same as the subassembly shown in FIGURE 5 except that in FIGURE 5 the slat 40 has been provided with an irregular upper edge for a purpose that will be explained.

In FIGURE 6 the subassembly of slat 40 and clips 25 has been mounted on the head channel 59 of an unmounted blind 49 by snapping the offset leading portion 35 of the short leg of each clip 25 over the bead 44 which is at the free edge of channel side-wall 42. The snapping of the otfset portion 35 over the bead 44 is readily accomplished by resting portion 38 of each clip on top of the bead 44 and, with the slat 40 tilted forward slightly, applying downward pressure to each clip 25. Once the slat 40 is mounted on'the head channel as shown in FIG- URE 6, is is vertically adjustable. Each clip 25 frictionally grips the channel wall 42, the rounded portion 32 being in sliding engagement with the outside of the side wall 42 and the nose portion 39 of the oifset portion 35 being in sliding engagement with the inside of the side wall 42. The clips 25 hold the slat against the channel wall 42 with force suflicient to flatten the slat somewhat,

whereby the resiliency of the slat contributes to the frictional holding of the slat.

In FIGURE 7 there is shown a jarnb 10, a side channel 14 and a head-channel-supporting bracket 17. These are the same as'the like-numbered parts in FIGURE 1. The headchannel 59 and blind 49 of FIGURE 6 are shown mounted in the window opening in FIGURE 7. After the blind has been mounted each of the clips 25 is pushed into contact with the soffit 12, thereby moving the slat 40 across the gap 22 and obstructing the passage of light therethrough. In the event that the sofiit is' inclined somewhat, or the head channel 59 isnt perfectly level, with the result that the light gap 22 is tapered from one jamb to the other, one of the clips 25 will move up higher than the other and the slat 40 will be inclined as required to conform with the taper of the gap 22.

In FIGURE 7 theupper edge of the slat 40 is spaced from the soflit 12 by the thickness of the sheet metal of clip 25. This spacing is so small that it may usually be ignored. However, even this space can be eliminated by placing the bights 29 and 31 of the clip 25 a trifle closer together than the over-all width of the slat 40 and then notching the slat where it engages the top of the clip so that the upper edge of the slat will be located flush with the top outer surface of the clip, and contact the soflit accordingly.

In FIGURE 1 the soflit 12, has a wavy. surface thereby causing the width or height of the gap at 22' to vary irregularly. Before assembly of the slat 49 with the clips and head'channel the upper edge of the slat may be held against the sufiit 12' and be marked with dividers in conformity with the irregularities in the sofiit. Then the slat light-obstructing slat may be marked and cut in accordance with the sag in the soifit.

The present invention is also applicable to skylight Venetian blinds. A skylight blind extends horizontally instead of vertically. The side channels are horizontal; they not only receive the ends of the slats to prevent the passage of light around the ends of the slats, but they also support the slats. The ladders which articulate the slats together are operable to tilt the slats but are not arranged to accumulate the slats. For this reason a skylight blind has two head channels, one at each end of the ladder-and-slat assembly of the blind.

In FIGURE 8 a transparent bubble or dome 70 overlies a roof opening defined by transverse sides 71, 71 and longitudinal sides 72 (one shown). Aflixed to each longitudinal side 72 is a side channel 74 which corresponds to the side channel 14 in FIGURES 1 and 7 but which is horizontally disposed. Extending between the two side channels at the two ends thereof are head channels 75, 75 which are positioned on their sides and confront the building surfaces 71, 71.

The increments in which the ladders of the blind can be cut correspond to the slat spacing in the blind. This means that there will often be relatively large light gaps, or potential light gaps as 76, 76 between the tops of the head channels and the confronting building-surfaces 71, 71. In accordance with the present invention each of the head channels 75, 75 is provided with an adjustable light stop, each such light stop comprising a length of Venetian blind slat 77 which is held against the outside of the head-channel side-wall by spring clips 25 as already explained in connection with FIGURES 1 through 7. These light blocks are adjustable to move against the building surfaces 71, 71 in the manner already described.

We claim:

1. In a Venetian blind installation in which the blind has a head channel, the head channel has a side wall, and the side wall has a free edge;

and the blind is installed with such free edge confronting a building-surface in spaced relation thereto,

leaving a potential light gap between said buildingsurface and said free edge of the channel sidewall;

the improvement which comprises:

a length of Venetian blind slat positioned edgewise with respect to said building-surface,

said slat extending along said channel side-wall in face-to-face relation thereto;

and means securing said Venetian blind slat to said channel side-wall in resilient manner and affording ready sliding movement of the slat in an edgewise direction across said potential light gap to obstruct the passage of light through the potential light gap;

said slat being crowned, the crown of the slat being against the channel side-wall, and the slat being held against the channel side-Wall with force sufficient to somewhat flatten the slat.

2. A Venetian blind installation as in claim 1 in which spring clips are attached to the Ventian blind slat,

the clips extending over the free edge of the channel side-wall and having portions which resiliently engage the channel side-Wall on the side opposite to the Venetian blind slat.

3. A Venetian blind installation as in claim 2 in which the spring clips have confronting bights and the two longitudinal edges of the Venetian blind slat are engaged in the bights.

4. A Venetian blind installation as in claim 2 in which the spring-clip portions which engage the channel sidewall are leading portions which are ofiset and are adapted to snap over a head at the free edge of the channel sidewall.

5. For a Venetian blind installation in which (a) the blind has a head channel, the head channel has a side wall and the side wall has a free edge; (b) the blind is installedwith such .free edge of the head channel confronting a building-surface in spaced relation thereto, leaving a potential light gap between said building surface and said free edge of the channel side-wall; (c) a length of Venetian blind slat is positioned edgewise with respect to said building-surface, said slat extending along said channel side-wall in face-to-face relation thereto; and (d) there are means securing said Venetian blind slat to said channel side-wall in resilient manner and affording ready sliding movement of the slat in an edgewise direction across said potential light gap to obstruct thepassage of light through the potential light gap:

a subassembly of Venetian blind slat and .a plurality of spring clips spaced along the length of the slat and 'attached thereto,

each clip being generally U-shaped, with one short leg and one long leg,

the long leg having confronting bights, andthe opposite edges of the slat being engaged in the bights, and the short leg having a leading portion which is offset toward the slat and is adapted to snap over a bead at the free edge of the channel side-wall and then make sliding engagement with the inside of the channel side-wall.

6. A subassembly as in claim 5 in which the long leg of each of the clips is provided, at its free end, with a recurved portion that is adapted to make sliding engagement with the outside of the channel side-wall.

7. For a Venetian blind installation in which (a) the blind has a head channel, the head channel has a side wall and the side wall has a free edge; (12) the blind is installed with such free edge of the head channel confronting a building-surface in spaced relation thereto, leaving a potential light gap between said building surface and said free edge of the channel side-wall; (c) a length of Venetian blind slat is positioned edgewise with respect to said building-surface, said slat extending along said channel side-wall in face-to-face relation thereto; and (d) there are means securing said Venetian blind slat to said channel side-wall in resilient manner and affording ready sliding movement of the slat in an edgewise direction across said potential light gap to obstruct the passage of light through the potential light gap;

a one-piece spring clip formed of an elongated strip of sheet metal, said clip being generally U-shaped and comprising:

a long leg and a short leg connected together at one end by a length of the metal strip,

such connecting length of the metal strip making an acute angle with the long leg and providing it, at that end, with a bight facing toward the free end of the long leg, the terminal portion at the free end of the long leg being bent to form a bight facing toward said first-mentioned bight, and then being recurved to provide a smoothly rounded portion to slide over a length of Venetian blind slat on one side thereof and thereafter make sliding engagement with the outside of the side wall of a Venetian blind head-channel,

and the terminal portion at the free end of the short leg being bent into close proximity to the long leg and thence away from the long leg, thereby providing the short leg with a leading portion which is adapted to slide over the Venetian blind slat on the other side thereof, and thereafter snap over a bead at the free edge of the side wall of a Venetian blind head channel and then make sliding engagement with the inside of the channel side-wall.

8. For a Venetian blind installation in which (a) the blind has a head channel, the head channel has a side wall and the side wall has a free edge; (12) the blind is installed with such free edge of the head channel con fronting a building-surface in spaced relation thereto, leaving a potential light gap between said building surface and said free edge of the channel side-wall; (c) a length of Venetian blind slat positioned edgewise with respect from the bight to providera portion to slide over to said building-surface, said slat extending along said i I V a length of Venetian blind slat on one side therechannel side-wall in faCe-to-face relation thereto; and (d) of and thereafter make sliding engagement there are means securing said Venetian blind slat to said g With the outside of the side Wall of a Venetian channel side-wall in resilient manner and afiording ready 5 blind head-channel, sliding movement of the slat in an edgewise direction and the terminal portion at the free end of the across said potential light gap to obstruct the passage short leg being bent into close proximity to the of light through the potential light gap; long leg and thence away from the long leg, a one-piece spring clip formed of an elongated strip 1, thereby providing the short leg with a leading of sheet metal, said clip being ganerally U-shaped 10 portion which is adapted to slide over the Veneand comprising: tianblind slat on the other side thereof, and a long leg and a short leg connected together at one thereafter snap over a bead at the free edge of end by alength of the metal strip, I the side Wall of a Venetian blind head-channel siich connecting" length of the metal strip making V and then make sliding engagement with the inan acute angle With the long leg and providing 15 side of the channel side-wall, it, at that end, with a bight facing toward the 1 f end f h 1 leg" 7 References Cited in the file of this patent the terminal portion at the free end of the long UNITED STA PATENTS leg being bent to form a bight facing toward said I first-mentioned bight, and then being extended 20 Klenz Sept 1957 

1. IN A VENETIAN BLIND INSTALLATION IN WHICH THE BLIND HAS A HEAD CHANNEL, THE HEAD CHANNEL HAS A SIDE WALL, AND THE SIDE WALL HAS A FREE EDGE; AND THE BLIND IS INSTALLED WITH SUCH FREE EDGE CONFRONTING A BUILDING-SURFACE IN SPACED RELATION THERETO, LEAVING A POTENTIAL LIGHT GAP BETWEEN SAID BUILDINGSURFACE AND SAID FREE EDGE OF THE CHANNEL SIDEWALL; THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES: A LENGTH OF VENETIAN BLIND SLAT POSITIONED EDGEWISE WITH RESPECT TO SAID BUILDING-SURFACE, SAID SLAT EXTENDING ALONG SAID CHANNEL SIDE-WALL IN FACE-TO-FACE RELATION THERETO; AND MEANS SECURING SAID VENETIAN BLIND SLAT TO SAID CHANNEL SIDE-WALL IN RESILIENT MANNER AND AFFORDING READY SLIDING MOVEMENT OF THE SLAT IN AN EDGEWISE DIRECTION ACROSS SAID POTENTIAL LIGHT GAP TO OBSTRUCT THE PASSAGE OF LIGHT THROUGH THE POTENTIAL LIGHT GAP; SAID SLAT BEING CROWNED, THE CROWN OF THE SLAT BEING AGAINST THE CHANNEL SIDE-WALL, AND THE SLAT BEING HELD AGAINST THE CHANNEL SIDE-WALL WITH FORCE SUFFICIENT TO SOMEWHAT FLATTEN THE SLAT. 